The place to go if you want to learn how to market or publicize your book effectively.

December 23, 2008

Full Measure of Success

Last time I blogged with you, I left you with a three-fold question: what have you tried with regards to publicity, what have you learned, and how do you measure success?

This is the perfect week to take time for a little re-evaluation, and a lot of praise to God for the ways He has allowed us to write. Obviously, we’d better be doing something other than publicity over the next few days, so pondering our role in God’s story, and praising Him for His gift of salvation are timely activities.

This Christmas week, I find the idea of measuring success quite striking. See, we serve the Lord in His kingdom, and our success is measured by a different standard than the marketing schemes of man. After all, let’s compare what the world thought of the birth of Jesus to what God purposed.

If we look at the manger scene, and the story Luke recorded, we see that the world around Mary and Joseph didn’t have time to hear their story. The young boy and his soon-to-be mother were virtually ignored by the hustle and bustle around them. Everyone was hurrying to get to their hometowns in time for the census. To be counted. To be seen as citizens of the right lineage, town, and creed.

As the Messiah was about to appear in flesh, Mary and Joseph desperately needed help and assistance. The innkeeper had no intention of making any more room for the poor pregnant girl in the comfort of the inn, and the desperate couple was sent to the barn. The animals probably didn’t appreciate the invasion of space either as the couple and newborn child took up space in their stall, and converted their feeding trough into a baby’s crib. On a human scale, Mary and Joseph were not successful. Their efforts did not net them any significant triumph as the young couple rode into town for the census.

But, according to the will and plan of God, Mary and Joseph were exactly where they needed to be, in exactly the right moment. In a perfect fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus was born. The star shone in the sky. The shepherds came to see the King. The angels proclaimed the news. The Son of God came to earth in exactly the manner the Lord intended. Not just success; perfection.

The manner in which this whole story went down is completely contrary to what man would consider a birth fit for a king. But success according to God is not the same as the logic laded wisdom of man. As we think about Jesus and the miracle of Christmas, let’s not forget that God can do miraculous things in, through, and around us – for His glory. God will lead others to Himself through our books, and will be glorified through our obedience to Him.

So, as we re-evaluate and step out in a fresh resolve to share the news about our writing, let’s be sure to remember that following God’s design for publicity is far more successful than merely mimicking somebody else’s great ideas all the way. Seek God, and find the unique path He has for your book’s publicity. You might be more successful than you think!

iCAN Think it Thru:After your re-evaluation, what new publicity ideas would you like to try this coming year?